Desk-telephone.



1110. 827,692. l 11.1211111111 111111 31, 1966. s.11.H011f-1111o1\1.`

DESK TELEPHONE. APPLICATION FILED 001.223.1905.

' s SHEETS-81113111" 1.

'510.827,692. PATENTED JULY 31, 1906.

S.. G. HOUGHLTOBL,y

, DESK TELEPHONE'. APPLIOATION FILED 001123, `1905.

M'wesss: lime/23021' if QM. @MW fm Nrrian sfrrrrns STEPHEN C. HOUtil-ITON, OF ROME,

T OtilFiCE.

Para

NEWr YORK ASSlGNOlt TO THE WEE DESK-TELEFIHO'NE.z

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1906.

Application tiled October 23, 1905. Serial No. 283.909l

T0 LM whom 1f may concern:

Be it known that l, STEPHEN (l. lloucn- TON, of Home, county olt Oneida, State of New York, have invented an improvement iu Desk-'llelcphones, of which the 'following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a s] ecification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has lor its object to improve the construction of desk-telephones, whereby the telephone transmitter and receiver are supported at the extremity of an arm, or it may be a pair ofarms, pivoted to a suitable support, so that they may bc held at diil'erent elevations, said arms being frictionally held in whatever position they may be set; also, to provide a support l'orsaid pivoted arms which is movable on a vertical axis and which may be held in whatever position it may be set, so that the telephone transmitter and receiver maybe swung in the arc ot a circle. about said support as a center; also, to provide lengitudinally-extensiblc supporting-arms for the telephone transmitter' and receiver, whereby they may be moved a greater or less distance from the fixed support; also, to provide a switch-box at the extremity of the supporting arm or arms which is adapted to support the transmitter and which has connected with it a support lor the receiver, said box containing switches for either the bell-circuit or talking-circuit, or both, adapted to be operated by thc'movable member of the receiver-support, and also containing electrical connections leading to the transmitter; also, to make the supportingarm, or one ol them if two are employed, tu bular to receive the electric wires and to'pivot the switch-box to thc extremity of said tubular supporting arm or arms and having means for cormecting the switches and the electric connections contained therein with the electric wires, which are ihelosed within the tubular supporting-arm in such manner as to provide i'or the movement of the switchboX on its pivot with respect to said arm; also, tofimprove the construction of the parts in many respects, as will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure 1 is a Vsidc elevation ot a desk-telc- )hone embodyingr this inventioi'i. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section of the desk-telephone shown in Fig. 1. i Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section of the switch-box, taken on the detv ted line 3 3, Fig. 2, showing in plan view the receiver-slipport and the transmitter. -i is an end view of the receiver-support and a portion ol' the switch-box. Fig. 5 isna vertical section taken on the dotted line 5 5, Fig. 2. Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are details showing the switches contained in the switchbox and electrical connections with the wires contained in the tubular arm. F ig. l() is a dctail showing modified form of electrical connection of the switches with the wires contained in the tubular arm. oy represents a circular or other shaped baseplate, which .is adapted to be screwed or otherwise secured to a desk or other support. This base-plate is made as a ring having at its upper end an inwardly-extended flange a. Within the ring e and beneath the ilange e thereof a circular metallic plate a?, with a superimposcd plate or washer a, of liber or other material, is located, and upon the ring, above the ilange thereof, a plate or washer a4, of 'liber or other material, is located, upon which is placed the circular or other shaped base (1,7 for the swinging or` pivotcd support. The base of and `liber plates of* a3 and the plate a" are rigidly secured together by screws or otherwise and will turn together in the ring-like support a on a vertical axis to provide for swinging or turning the support for the arms bearing the telephone transmitter and receiver'. The plates o a4 serve as friction-platcs and by engaging the ring-like support act to hold the movable support in whatever position it may be set.

A pair of parallcl-disposed pieces a of' are erected upon the base a5, which occupy verti cal positions thereon, or they may be formed l integral with said base, and between' said pieces two sehiicircular or other shaped blocks (L7 a are placed, one above the other, which are pivotally supported by said pieces a," af, a a, representing the pivot-pins of said blocks. other suitable material, are )laced between the opposite sides of the bloclrs 0,7 a and the side pieces n," @"which act as frictional plates. On the outer side of each upright piece doo a circular or other shaped plate a,UZ is placed, and a bolt am passes through said plates (L2 and the side pieces a," e, -which serves'as a means of drawing said side pieces a" a to ward each other, so as te bind the frictionu Plates or washers al al?, ot fiber or telescopic for this purpose. The uppermostv arm, which is attached to the. block a8, consists of atubular rod l), containing a rod b', which is also preferably, Valthough not necessarily, made tubular. The inner rod b is movable longitudinally with respect to the outer rod b, and said inner rod b will be held in any position of adjustment by a set-screw b2. The rod b is designed -to have a hole through it for the rod t', which is made other :than round, andthe rod b is made of a shape to fit said hole, being thereby prevented from twisting. l As herein shown, the outer rod is made hexagonal and has a hexagonal hole throu h it, `and arod b is likewise made hexagonal to :Ht and slide longitudinally in the hole in the rod b. The lowermost arm, which is attached to the block a7, consists of a tubular rod c, containing a tubular rod c, the inner rod c being movable longitudinallywith respect to the rod c and adapted t'o be held in any position of adjustment by a set-screw c2. The inner-rod c is made tubular, so that, together with the tubular rod c containing it, an inclosed casing isprovided for the electric wires, and the block a7, to which said longituv dinally-extensible arm is attached, is also provided with a hole throughit for said wires in continuation of the hole through the supporting-arm. The rod c is designed to have a hole through it for the rod c', which is lade other than round, and the rod c is made of a shape to iit said hole, being thereby prevented from turning. As herein shown, the outer rod is made hexagonal and has a hexagonal hole through it, and the rod c is likewise made hexagonal to fit and slide longitudinally in the hole in the rodc. While I prefer to make the parallel arms longitudinally extensible to afford a greater range of adjustmcu l yet this is not an important feature of my invention.

It will be observed that by raising and lowering thev arms the telephone transmitter and receiver to be described will be held at dif ferent elevations, and by longitudinally adjusting said arms they may be held at a greater or less distance from the fixed support, and, furthermore, by swinging the main support .relative to the fixed support they may be moved in the are of a circle about said fixed support as a center.

At the extremities of the pivoted supporting-arms a switch-box is supported containing the switches for the bell-circuit or talkingcircuit, or both, and said box directly supports the telephone transmitter and receiver. The switch-box consists of a shell or case made in two parts, one of which comprises, essentially, the front wal'l d thereof and the other-the rear wall d thereof. The 'front wall d is hinged at d2 to the rear wall, so that the box may be the switch-box,between which the extremities of the supporting-arms terminate, and said supporting-arms are each pivoted to said ears, as at b3 c3, so that as the transmitter is moved to different elevations by moving the supporting-arms on their pivots a the switch-box and parts supported by it will continue to occupy a vertical position. Between lthe ears d4 and the extremities of the supporting-arms Y Action-plates d5, of fiber or other material, may be placed, if desired, which assist the holding of the switch-box in whatever posi-. tion it may be set. The telephone-receiver is also supported by the switch-box, a forked support being provided for holding it, one arm, as g, of which has a shank g, which projects through a hole in the side wall of the switch-box and is stationarily supported therein by being secured to a block g2, and the other arm, as g", of which has a shank g4, which likewise projects through a hole in the side wall of the switch-box a1 d is pivotally supported upon said block g2, g representing the pivot of said arm. The shank of the pivoted arm .g3 has an extension gl, which is adapted to engage one of the switch-pens which is contained in the switch-box, and the shank of the fixed arm has a rear extension g8, and a spring gD is placed between. the two extensions g7 g8, the function of which is to movethe extension Q7 away from the extension g5 when permitted to act to thereby cause said extension g7 to move the switchpen, said spring, however, being normally held compressed by the receiver f, which is' placed between the arms g gi of the forked support, and thereby holds them separated. Within the switchbox three long slender spring-acting switch-pens 7 n n2 are supported in vert" al position aid in parallelism,

other ens, and said middle pen n extends IOO r 2o the middle pen n being made' longer thanthe 4 into c ose roximity to the extensiong7 on the movab emember of the receiver-support, so as tobe rengaged and operated by said, movable member when the receiver lis removed from'its support. The switch-pens n n are normally in engagement with each other to close the beu-circuit, and the pen n2 is normally disengagedtherefrom, and When senese said middle pen is engaged and operated by the movable member of the receiver-support it Will be disengaged from the switch-pen n to thereby open the bell-circuit and will be moved into enga ement With the switch-pen n to close the tal ring-circuit. With this arrangement of arts the switch-pen n will be connected vfitn a circuit-Wire containing the bell, (not shown) and the switch-pen n will he connected with 'the circuit-Wire containing the generator, (not shown) and th switch-pen n will be connected. with circuit-wire containingthebattery. (Not shown.) The three switch-pens a n n2, together with a pen n3, to he referred to, are all connected to a support and insulated from each other, and, as herein shown, said support consists oi a pile of plates i, of insulating material, arranged with the pens between them, as shown, and screws 'i' pass through said plates, which hold them assembled and also secure them to a yoke or frame which is secured to the rear or station,- ary wall of the switch-box. By thus supporting the switch-pens it will be seen that they are insulated from each other, and also conveniently arranged in the switch-box, and also, when the front wall of the switch-box is opened, are readily accessible. The pen 'n3 is adapted to be connected with a circuit- Wire leading to the transmitter, .and the switch-pen n2, which is connected with the battery-wire, is adapted to be connected with a circuit-wire leading to the receiver, and to *facilitate making these connections said pens n3 n2 cach have an ear projecting laterally from it, the ear nl" on the pen n3 projecting from one side of the pen and the.

ear n2 on the pen n? projecting from the opposite side of the pen, and on the inner side of the front or movable wall of the switch-box two contact-pens am n2 are secured, which are insulated therefrom and which, when the iront wall is in its normal position, the box being closed, respectively engage said arms n30 n2". T he circuit-Wire leadin f to the transmitter is electrically connecte with the contact-pen n3". By providing these contact-pens n n on the movable front wall of the switch-box it will be seen that said iront wall vcan be swung open on its hinged connection, a result which could not be accomplished if the circuit-wires were directly ccnnected to said pens n n'". Two of the switchpens n n and the pen 'a3 are adapted to be connected with three circuit-Wires wlnch are I inclosed within the tubular pivoted supporting-arm, and to etlect this connection the lower ends of said pens are extended and bent and projected through a hole in the rear wall of the switch-box, nto at" n?" representing said extensions. The said extensions are held in continuous engagement with a corresponding number of plates m m f,'njwhich are supported by the tubular pivoted supportingarm being used to receive said plates. The

three plates m are formed with curved ends or edges, to continuously engage the springfacting extensions am as the supporting-arm is moved on its pivot and as thc switch-box is moved on its pivot v-.fith respect to the supporting-arm. The said platos 'm have shauks which extend into the tubular arm. These plates disposed in parallelism and urranged with plates ot insulating material nl between them and also bctwccn the sides ol' the tubular arm, so that they are independentlT .insulated from cach othcr and vlrom thc supporting-arm, and thc roar or inner ends olA shalilrs ot the platos arc'respcctivcli connected 'with the electric wires 'which are inclosed Within the tubular supporting-arm. The three plates are assmnblcd togrcthcr with the plates olE ii'isulatingry material between them and are rigidly sccurcd to the cxtremity of the pivoted supporting-arm. 'l`hus it will be seen that the switch-lumr will at all times occupy a vertical position at am elevation it may be sot and the electrical connections Will be n'laintained.

Having thus described my invention7 what l claim as new, and desire to sccurc` by lietters Patent, is

l. ln a desk-telephone, a lixedbnse, a pair of friction-plates movably connected therewith, a support to which said friction-plates are attached, a pair oi supportiiig-arms pivotedtosaid support, and a transmitter and a receiver supported by said arms, substantially described. i

2. ln a desir-telephone, a iixcd base, a support movably connected therewith, adapted to turn on a vertical axis comprisingY a pair of upright sido pieces, a pair of blocks placed between said sidol icces, telophonc-supporting arms attache( to said blocks, frictionplates located between the blocks and the side pieces, and a bolt for drawing said sido pieces together, and a transmitter and a rcceiver supported by said arms, substantially as descri ed.

3. ln a desk-telephone, a )air oi pivotcd supporting-arms, one oi'which is ma'dc tubular to receive the electric wires, a switch-box pivotally connected to the ixtrcu'iitics oll said arms, which romains in vertical the supporting-arms are mover on their pivots and the switch-box thereby supported at different elevations, a plurality of platos supported by thc arm containing the Wires, which are respectively connected to said Wires, and fii'gcrs connected with the switches contained in the switch-box which continuously engage said platos as tho switch-box is moved 'relative to the arms, and a tclephonc-receiver support connected with said switch-box having means ioroperating the switches contained therein, substantially as described.

4. ln a desk-telephone, a

pair of pivoted supporting-arms, one of whic i is made tubuposition as IOO i larI to receive the electric wires, a switch-box pivotally connected to the extremities of said arms, lwhich remains in vertical position as lthe supporting-arms are moved" on their pivots and the switch-box thereby supported at, different elevations, a plurality of plates .supported by the arm containing the wires ying-arms, one of which is made tubular to receive the electric wires, a switch-box pivotally connected to theI extremities of said arms containing switches for the bell-circuit or talking-circuit having yielding extensions, means supported by the arm containing the wires to which said wires are connected, adapted to be engaged continuously by said extensions as the switch-box is moved relative to the arms, and a telephone-receiver support connected with said switch-box, the movable member of which is adapted to operate said switches', substantially as described.

6. In. a desk-telephone, a pair of pivoted supporting-arms, one of which is made tubu- 4lar` to receive'the electric wires, a plurality of terminal plates supported at the end of said arm, respectively connected with. said lwires, a switch-box pivotally connected to the. extremities of said arms containing .switches for the bell-circuit or talking-circuit and also containing conducting-plates, fingers connected with said switches and also vwith said conducting-plates which continuously engage said terminal plates as the switch-box is moved relative to the arms,

contact-pens Iattached to the switch-box which engage said conducting-plates and to which the telephone-transmitter 1s electrically connected, and a telephone-receiver support also connected with said switch-box,

the movable member ol" which is adapted to operate said switches, substantially as described.

7. In a desk-telephone, a pair 'of pivoted supporting-arms, one of which is made tubular to receive the electric wires, a plurality of terminal plates supported at the end of said arm, Arespectively connected with said wires, a switch-box pivotally connected to the extremities of said arms containingr switches for the bell-circuit or talking-circuit,` and also containing conducting-plates, means connected .with said switc es and conducting-plates for continuouslyr en aging said terminal plates `as the switchox is moved relative to the arms, contact-pens attached to the switch-box which engage said w conducting-plates, and to .which the vtelephone-transmitter is4 electrically connected and a telephone-receiver support also connected with said switch-box, theinovable member of which is adapted to operate said switches, substantially as described.

8. In a desk-telephone, a pivoted support having a passage Jfor the electric Wires,a switch-box pivoted to the extremity of said support containing switches for the Vbell-circuit or talking-circuit having exten-tions, a plurality of' plates held by said supportand respectively connected with thewlres conmeans connected with said switches for continuously engaging said .plates as `the switchbox is moved relative to the support, and a telephone-receiver support connected with said switch-box, the movable .member of 'l which is adapted to operate said switches, substantiall as described.

10. Ina esl :-telephone,a ivoted support having a passage for the eectric wires, a switch-box pivoted to the extremity of said support containing switches for Vthe bell-circuit or talking-circuit having yielding extensions, means borne by said support and connected with the wires contained therein, adapted to be engaged continuously b said extensions as the switch-box is move support connected with said switch-box, the movable lmember of which is adapted to operate said switches, substantially as described.

1 l. In a desk-telephone, a pivoted support having a passage for the electric wires, a piurali ty of terminal plates held by said support and respectivelyv connected with the wires, a switch-box pivotally connected tov the extremity of said support containing switches for the bell-circuit or talking-circuit and also IOO relative to the support, and a telephone-receiver containing conductingplates, lingers connected with said switches and said conducting-plates which continuously engage said terminal plates as the switch-box is moved relative to the support, contactpens attached. to the switch-box which engage said conducting-plates and to which the telephone-transmitter is electrically connected 'and a telephone-receiver support also connected with said switch-box, the'movable member 'of which is adapted to operate said switches, Substantially as described.

l2. In a desk-telephone, a pivoted support yi having a passage for the electric wires, a plurality of terminal plates held -by said supportl l and respectively connected with the wires, a switch-box pivotally connected to said supl port containing switches for the bell-circuit or talking-circuit and also containing conducting-plates7 means connected with said switches and said conducting-plates which continuously engage said terminal plates as the switch-box is moved relative to the support, contact-pens attached to the switch box which engage said conductingplates and f to which the telephonii-transmitter is elec trically connected, and a telephone-receiver l support also connected with said switch-box, the movable member of which is adapted to l operate said switches, substantially as described.

13. In a desk-telephone, a support having a passage for theelectric wires, a switchbox pivoted to said support containing switches for the local circuits having extensions or lingers, plurality oi plates held by said support and respectively connected with the electric wires contained therein which are continuously engaged by said extensions or fingers as the switclbbox is moved relative to erate said switches, substantially as dei scribed.

14. .ln a desk-telephone, ya support having a passage for the electric wires, a plurality of terminal plates held by said support and respectively connected with the wires, a switclbbox pivotally connected to said support containing switches for the local circuits and also containing condueting-plates, extensions oi fingers on said switches and said conducting-plates, which continuously engage said terminal plates as the suitch-box is moved relative to thesupport, contact-pens attached to the switch-box which. engage said conducting-plates and to which the telephone-transmitter is electricallyconnected, and a telephone-receiver support also con.- nected with said switch-bix, the movable member of which is adapted to operate said switches, substantially as described.

ln testimony whereotl l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. STICPHFN HOUGHTON'. Witnesses F. M. POTTER, Jr., II. Di .Ponniiow 

